HEALTHY LIVING
one foot in front of the other mobilizes you forward
BY : MARION E . WIDLEY
How often do you find yourself falling into a rut ? You get up , face the day , which means following the routine of work , whatever that may be , driving in traffic , fueling up , and stopping for groceries on the way home . It ’ s a matter of putting one foot in front of the other , and to keep moving at all costs so nothing has time to sneak in and distract you . Seemingly , no matter how you try to consolidate your daily errands , the day is filled to the rim with “ things you have to do .” You must stay on task , in order to stay afloat of bills , household chores and repairs , and even your children ’ s future . Staying on task tends to take a toll on you eventually , so it ’ s necessary to get yourself off the beaten path of familiarity and challenge yourself to something different , and move out of the trench you have worn into the path you travel day in and day out . Sounds like a good idea , doesn ’ t it ? For once , instead of getting the equivalent allotted time as a “ smoke ” break of 15 minutes , you get the reward of a three-day weekend , where you build yourself a day off on either end of that weekend and you ’ re now looking at a five-day break from the have-to-do routine . The question is , what are you going to do with those days ? If you ’ re at the point in your game , that you ’ re thinking of repeatedly poking yourself with a fork , much like stabbing a potato before you bake it , just to get yourself out the door , it is apparent you ’ re in need of a reset . Think of it in terms of computer programs , and how even though it is a program , therefore programmed to do the same thing continuously , until such a time the program needs an update , there are plenty of other times when you either have to control-alt-delete , or hard restart , as the program quits operating correctly . You are human , not a machine , therefore you can ’ t expect your body and mind collective attempt to perform said routines over and over , without activating a reset button . Quite often if you don ’ t take the time for a reboot , a health matter surfaces , and you ’ re forced into a retreat . Put your foot forward and plan for a respite before you crash .
The idea of a vacation , a respite from this groove , may intimidate you for reasons other than the obvious financial culpability . Remember , we are not supposed to be trudging through life just to get a few days or a week of playtime , and then barely doing anything life-changing during that interim . Forbid yourself from making any sort of excuses for not engaging in an activity that opens you to uncharted territory . Intend that the respite you choose be focused , designed to challenge yourself , and expose yourself to nature or activities you ’ ve been enamored with trying . Do it , and don ’ t put it off again , now is now , and who knows when the opportunity will come around again . Decide on an experience that enhances who you are , or a side of you that clamors to be fleshed out . Narrow down your interests and start a search for retreats that offer a pre-designed itinerary that is allinclusive , and takes a lot of the stress of planning out of the way . Or throw caution to the wind and hop in the car with your best bud and take a random road trip , drive until you pull off at the next scenic byway , and let the power of the moment lead you to the experience . Do you snap some pictures and roll out , or do you and your companion hike or sit for a spell in this environment , and talk about what pictures or faces you see in the clouds ? Immersion into a lifestyle that includes refocusing the aperture of your mind and allowing it to drift without the influence of any daily obligations is the first step in much needed decompression from the every day life you live .
Every journey begins with a step . Think about it , everything you do begins with instruction step number one , or the placement of one foot stepping out in front of the other to propel you forward . Endeavor to climb a mountain . The mountain can be a literal aspiration to hike the precarious summit journey to Angel ’ s Landing , or a figurative pursuit , as in the case of overcoming cancer in the body . Either journey carries similarities that make fine additions to the cognitive skills of your brain , and will remain a part of you for the rest of your life , and therefore hold a significance that will continue to shape your choices across the board of life . Beginning at the foot of a nearly 1,500 foot climb to reach Angel ’ s Landing in Zion National Park , you have two and a half miles to reach the summit overlooking the Virgin River and spectacular views no matter which direction in which you turn . The views are what you make of it , choose to look far and note your progress as you climb the summit , or concentrate on the small steps , and keep blinders to block the expanse before you . Your choice will mobilize you to your goal , yet challenge yourself to experience both sides of the path , and discover your middle ground . What works for you ? As with any hike or commute , the number of people you come across depends largely upon the time of day , or season of the year you begin your journey . Just like parts of the year are busier than others , the pathway to the top has its rush hours , too . Some days you commence the hike and come across people from all over the world ; all attired in gear that ranges from highly experienced to inexperienced , but they all have an unquestionable drive to reach the top , and perhaps some of their determination rubs off on you , and you gain extra pep in your step . Those that leave you with impacting impressions are the ones that are put on the path to nudge you along , and help you reach your goal . Friends , co-workers and acquaintances in daily life are comparable to the ones you meet in close quarters in the trek to the top .
36 | WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2016